- Crimson-backed Tanager
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Crimson-backed Tanager 
In Panama Conservation status Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Thraupidae Genus: Ramphocelus Species: R. dimidiatus Binomial name Ramphocelus dimidiatus
Lafresnaye, 1837The Crimson-backed Tanager (Ramphocelus dimidiatus) is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family. It is found in Colombia, French Guyana, Panama, and Venezuela.[2] Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and heavily degraded former forest.[2] A nickname in Panama is sangre de toro ("Blood of the bull").[3]
The Crimson-backed Tanager was first described by French naturalist Frédéric de Lafresnaye in 1837. It is one of nine species of brightly coloured tanagers of the genus Ramphocelus. Mitochondrial DNA evidence indicates its closest relative is the Masked Crimson Tanager (R. nigrogularis), and the two split around 800,000 years ago.[4]
Measuring around 18 cm (7 in) in length, the adult male has a silver sheen on its lower mandible.[5] Its whole head and chest are a maroon red, brightening to a bright red on its lower back and abdomen. Its wings and tail are black. The female is duller with blackish underparts.[6]
It is found in northern and western Colombia (south to Chocó where it is uncommon[6]), the Maracaibo Basin in Venezuela,[5] and over most of Panama, where it extends to Chiriquí and Veraguas Provinces in the west of the country, as well as Coiba, where it is abundant, and Pearl Islands.[3] It inhabits forest, scrub and gardens.[5]
A nest with a clutch of two blue eggs with fine dark dots has been recorded.[6]
A field study on blood parasites found that two individual Crimson-backed Tanagers (out of twelve tested) bore Plasmodium, with the study concluding the overall rate was low compared with studies done elsewhere.[7]
References
- ^ BirdLife International (2008). Ramphocelus dimidiatus. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 25 July 2009.
- ^ a b "BirdLife Species Factsheet (additional data): Crimson-backed Tanager". BirdLife International. http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=9306&m=1. Retrieved 25 July 2009.
- ^ a b Robert S. Ridgely, John A. Gwynne (1992). A Guide to the Birds of Panama: With Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Honduras. Princeton University Press. pp. 403. ISBN 0691025126. http://books.google.com.au/books?id=H9INVOMUgOAC&pg=PA403&dq=%22Crimson-backed+Tanager%22&hl=en&ei=cD_lTYmXOISyvgPZocyEBw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CD8Q6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=%22Crimson-backed%20Tanager%22&f=false.
- ^ Burns, Kevin J.; Racicot, Rachel A. (2009). "Molecular phylogenetics of a clade of lowland tanagers: implications for avian participation in the great American interchange". Auk 126 (3): 635–48. http://www.bio.sdsu.edu/pub/burns/Burns%26Racicot2009.pdf.
- ^ a b c Robert S. Ridgely, Guy Tudor (2009). Field Guide to the Songbirds of South America: The Passerines. University of Texas Press. p. 614. ISBN 0292719795. http://books.google.com.au/books?id=gC_A2fpBl1gC&pg=PA614&dq=%22Masked+Crimson+Tanager%22&hl=en&ei=86PkTarEBIf2vwPfvr2UBw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CEIQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=%22Masked%20Crimson%20Tanager%22&f=false.
- ^ a b c Steven L. Hilty, Bill Brown (1986). A guide to the birds of Colombia. Princeton University Press. pp. 624. ISBN 069108372X. http://books.google.com.au/books?id=kHa6tJNKGDAC&pg=PA624&dq=%22Crimson-backed+Tanager%22&hl=en&ei=cD_lTYmXOISyvgPZocyEBw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CDMQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=%22Crimson-backed%20Tanager%22&f=false. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
- ^ Londono, Aurora; Pulgarin-R.; Paulo C.; Blair, Silva (2007). "Blood Parasites in Birds From the Lowlands of Northern Colombia". Caribbean Journal of Science 43 (1): 87–93. http://people.uleth.ca/~pulgarinrestrepo/43_87-93.pdf.
Categories:- IUCN Red List least concern species
- Ramphocelus
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